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A Prayer for Guidance and Protection[a]

25 To you, O Lord, I offer my prayer;
    in you, my God, I trust.
Save me from the shame of defeat;
    don't let my enemies gloat over me!
Defeat does not come to those who trust in you,
    but to those who are quick to rebel against you.

Teach me your ways, O Lord;
    make them known to me.
Teach me to live according to your truth,
    for you are my God, who saves me.
    I always trust in you.

Remember, O Lord, your kindness and constant love
    which you have shown from long ago.
Forgive the sins and errors of my youth.
In your constant love and goodness,
    remember me, Lord!

Because the Lord is righteous and good,
    he teaches sinners the path they should follow.
He leads the humble in the right way
    and teaches them his will.
10 With faithfulness and love he leads
    all who keep his covenant and obey his commands.

11 Keep your promise, Lord, and forgive my sins,
    for they are many.
12 Those who have reverence for the Lord
    will learn from him the path they should follow.
13 They will always be prosperous,
    and their children will possess the land.
14 The Lord is the friend of those who obey him
    and he affirms his covenant with them.

15 I look to the Lord for help at all times,
    and he rescues me from danger.
16 Turn to me, Lord, and be merciful to me,
    because I am lonely and weak.
17 Relieve me of my worries
    and save me from all my troubles.
18 Consider my distress and suffering
    and forgive all my sins.

19 See how many enemies I have;
    see how much they hate me.
20 Protect me and save me;
    keep me from defeat.
    I come to you for safety.
21 May my goodness and honesty preserve me,
    because I trust in you.

22 From all their troubles, O God,
    save your people Israel!

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 25:1 HEBREW TITLE: By David.

Psalm 25

Prayer for Guidance and for Deliverance

Of David.

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.(A)
O my God, in you I trust;
    do not let me be put to shame;
    do not let my enemies exult over me.(B)
Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame;
    let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.(C)

Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
    teach me your paths.(D)
Lead me in your truth and teach me,
    for you are the God of my salvation;
    for you I wait all day long.(E)

Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love,
    for they have been from of old.(F)
Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
    according to your steadfast love remember me,
    for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!(G)

Good and upright is the Lord;
    therefore he instructs sinners in the way.(H)
He leads the humble in what is right
    and teaches the humble his way.(I)
10 All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,
    for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.(J)

11 For your name’s sake, O Lord,
    pardon my guilt, for it is great.(K)
12 Who are they who fear the Lord?
    He will teach them the way that they should choose.

13 They will abide in prosperity,
    and their children shall possess the land.(L)
14 The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him,
    and he makes his covenant known to them.(M)
15 My eyes are ever toward the Lord,
    for he will pluck my feet out of the net.(N)

16 Turn to me and be gracious to me,
    for I am lonely and afflicted.(O)
17 Relieve the troubles of my heart,
    and bring me[a] out of my distress.(P)
18 Consider my affliction and my trouble,
    and forgive all my sins.(Q)

19 Consider how many are my foes
    and with what violent hatred they hate me.(R)
20 O guard my life and deliver me;
    do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
21 May integrity and uprightness preserve me,
    for I wait for you.(S)

22 Redeem Israel, O God,
    out of all its troubles.(T)

Footnotes

  1. 25.17 Or The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me

25 (0) By David:

(1) I lift my inner being to you, Adonai;
I trust you, my God.
Don’t let me be disgraced,
don’t let my enemies gloat over me.
No one waiting for you will be disgraced;
disgrace awaits those who break faith for no reason.

Make me know your ways, Adonai,
teach me your paths.
Guide me in your truth, and teach me;
for you are the God who saves me,
my hope is in you all day long.
Remember your compassion and grace, Adonai;
for these are ages old.
Don’t remember my youthful sins or transgressions;
but remember me according to your grace
for the sake of your goodness, Adonai.

Adonai is good, and he is fair;
this is why he teaches sinners the way [to live],
leads the humble to do what is right
and teaches the humble [to live] his way.
10 All Adonai’s paths are grace and truth
to those who keep his covenant and instructions.
11 For the sake of your name, Adonai,
forgive my wickedness, great though it is.

12 Who is the person who fears Adonai?
He will teach him the way to choose.
13 He will remain prosperous,
and his descendants will inherit the land.
14 Adonai relates intimately with those who fear him;
he makes them know his covenant.

15 My eyes are always directed toward Adonai,
for he will free my feet from the net.
16 Turn to me, and show me your favor;
for I am alone and oppressed.
17 The troubles of my heart are growing and growing;
bring me out of my distress.
18 See my affliction and suffering,
and take all my sins away.

19 Consider my enemies, how many there are
and how cruelly they hate me.
20 Protect me and rescue me;
don’t let me be disgraced,
for I take refuge in you.
21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me,
because my hope is in you.

22 God! Redeem Isra’el
from all their troubles!

25 1-2 My head is high, God, held high;
I’m looking to you, God;
No hangdog skulking for me.

I’ve thrown in my lot with you;
You won’t embarrass me, will you?
Or let my enemies get the best of me?

Don’t embarrass any of us
Who went out on a limb for you.
It’s the traitors who should be humiliated.

Show me how you work, God;
School me in your ways.

Take me by the hand;
Lead me down the path of truth.
You are my Savior, aren’t you?

Mark the milestones of your mercy and love, God;
Rebuild the ancient landmarks!

Forget that I sowed wild oats;
Mark me with your sign of love.
Plan only the best for me, God!

God is fair and just;
He corrects the misdirected,
Sends them in the right direction.

He gives the rejects his hand,
And leads them step-by-step.

10 From now on every road you travel
Will take you to God.
Follow the Covenant signs;
Read the charted directions.

11 Keep up your reputation, God;
Forgive my bad life;
It’s been a very bad life.

12 My question: What are God-worshipers like?
Your answer: Arrows aimed at God’s bull’s-eye.

13 They settle down in a promising place;
Their kids inherit a prosperous farm.

14 God-friendship is for God-worshipers;
They are the ones he confides in.

15 If I keep my eyes on God,
I won’t trip over my own feet.

16 Look at me and help me!
I’m all alone and in big trouble.

17 My heart and mind are fighting each other;
Call a truce to this civil war.

18 Take a hard look at my life of hard labor,
Then lift this ton of sin.

19 Do you see how many people
Have it in for me?
How viciously they hate me?

20 Keep watch over me and keep me out of trouble;
Don’t let me down when I run to you.

21 Use all your skill to put me together;
I wait to see your finished product.

22 God, give your people a break
From this run of bad luck.